Path of Exile 2 1.0 Launches December 11, Goes Free-to-Play

Grinding Gear Games has set Path of Exile 2's 1.0 launch for December 11, when the action RPG will leave early access and switch fully to a free-to-play model. The release also brings the Duelist class, the final two campaign Acts, and a community registration campaign now live on the official Path of Exile website.

The date was announced during Gamescom Opening Night Live, giving players a firm target for a full release that had shifted over the course of the year. December 11 also marks the end of the current early access entry requirement, which has so far been tied to buying a Founder's Pack.

That change is one of the biggest milestones for the game since early access began. Once version 1.0 arrives, players will be able to jump in without that upfront purchase, aligning the sequel with the original Path of Exile's free-to-play structure.

Grinding Gear Games is also using the lead-up to launch to build momentum through a registration drive. Players can sign up ahead of release, and the studio is tying the campaign to unlockable rewards for the entire community. One of those rewards is a pet, with more bonuses depending on how many people register before launch.

On the gameplay side, version 1.0 adds the Duelist, a melee-first class built around aggressive close-range combat. The class uses swords and can equip shields, a notable addition because it becomes the first sword-focused class in Path of Exile 2. That gives the launch version a more complete roster while also filling a clear gap in the game's current class lineup.

The 1.0 update also completes the campaign by adding the final two Acts. That matters as much as the new class, because early access has offered only part of the game's full story structure. Finishing the campaign should give the launch build a very different feel from the version players have been testing so far, with the core progression finally in place from beginning to end.

The full release lands almost exactly two years after the start of early access. During that early period, the game drew heavy attention across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, and launch-day demand produced long queue times as millions tried to get in. That early response established Path of Exile 2 as one of the most closely watched action RPGs in development, especially among players looking for a slower, more punishing alternative to the genre's faster looter formula.

Grinding Gear had previously indicated that version 1.0 would arrive after ExileCon in November, but it had not attached a precise date until now. With the campaign nearly complete, a new class joining the roster, and the paywall for access about to disappear, December 11 now stands as the point when Path of Exile 2 moves from extended test phase to full live release.